Fast forward

The curtains was raised for the three-day mega investors’ meet ‘Emerging Kerala 2012; Global Connect’ at Le Meridien Convention Centre in the city on Wednesday.

On the first day of the event, as many as 1,893 delegates from 51 countries across the globe registered. Of these, 552 are from outside Kerala and several other delegations from outside the country.

Speaking on the occasion, Industries Minister P K Kunhalikkutty assured that the state was committed to supporting investments in a transparent and effective manner. “There are 14 sectors which are of importance to Kerala that are being discussed here. As of this morning we have 1893 delegates registered. There are over 50 diplomats who are attending the meet. Over 1,200 requests for Business to Business meetings have been initiated,” he said.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh inaugurated the three-day event, which aims to bring major investments into logistics, waterways, trade and industries and other key sectors in the state.

Launching the investors’ meet, Prime Minister listed out the slew of projects which have been offered to the state with Central assistance including the International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) at Vallarpadom and the Kochi Metro Rail Project, which is being launched on Thursday.

Earlier the Prime Minister, who came by the Rajkamal aircraft of the Indian Air Force, was received at the Naval Airport INS Garuda by Governor H R Bhardwaj and Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. Union Minister K C Venugopal, Excise Minister K Babu, KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala, Mayor Tony Chammany, Hibi Eden MLA, Chief Secretary K Jayakumar, Southern Naval Command Commanding-in-Chief Vice-Admiral Satish Sony, DGP K S Balasubrahmanyam, General Administration secretary K R Jyothilal, District Collector P I Sheik Pareeth and State Protocol Officer T P Vijayakumar were also present on the occasion.

The Prime Minister, who is on a two-day visit to Kochi, is accompanied by his wife Gursharan Kaur.

A 40-member team consisting of Defence Minister A K Antony, Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi, Planning Commission vice-chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Union Ministers K V Thomas, E Ahamed and Mullappally Ramachandran and Prime Minister’s advisor T K A Nair have flown down to the city for the event.